Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
and said, “Sir, now that Achilles has spared your life, you seem to
have no fear about sleeping in the thick of your foes. You have
paid a great ransom, and have received the body of your son; were
you still alive and a prisoner the sons whom you have left at home
would have to give three times as much to free you; and so it
would be if Agamemnon and the other Achaeans were to know of
your being here.”
When he heard this the old man was afraid and roused his servant.
Mercury then yoked their horses and mules, and drove them
quickly through the host so that no man perceived them. When
they came to the ford of eddying Xanthus, begotten of immortal
Jove, Mercury went back to high Olympus, and dawn in robe of
saffron began to break over all the land. Priam and Idaeus then
drove on toward the city lamenting and making moan, and the
mules drew the body of Hector. No one neither man nor woman
saw them, till Cassandra, fair as golden Venus standing on
Pergamus, caught sight of her dear father in his chariot, and his
servant that was the city’s herald with him. Then she saw him that
was lying upon the bier, drawn by the mules, and with a loud cry
she went about the city saying, “Come hither Trojans, men and
women, and look on Hector; if ever you rejoiced to see him coming
from battle when he was alive, look now on him that was the glory
of our city and all our people.”
At this there was not man nor woman left in the city, so great a
sorrow had possessed them. Hard by the gates they met Priam as
he was bringing in the body. Hector’s wife and his mother were the
first to mourn him: they flew towards the waggon and laid their
hands upon his head, while the crowd stood weeping round them.
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